Hopefully This Man Can Multi-Task

I MAY, for a spot of light relief, attempt to multi-task this evening, by watching the BT Sport broadcast of the Partick Thistle v Rangers football match, with the sound muted, whilst simultaneously listening to the BBC Radio Scotland broadcast of the Edinburgh v Benetton PRO14 match. I wager, at some point, one of Peter Wright's observations about the refereeing, or some incident during play at Myreside, will seamlessly cover whatever pictures are then being broadcast from Firhill.

 Peter Wright - a national treasurer as a summariser

I actually enjoy big Peter's sometimes exasperated comments, the big man is a natural broadcaster, both on-radio and on-television. If rugby had a version of Test Match Special, Peter would be a national treasure by now.

Tonight's game is one Edinburgh will be expected to win, and win well – so, the spectators inside Myreside might be in for a difficult and seemingly lengthy evening. I think they will win, hopefully, with a bonus point on top, but, it would be great for the team and for Scottish rugby, were they to win without any hiccups, by just going out there, taking control and relentlessly turning the screw. That sort of performance, and, we might be able to believe Edinburgh had turned a corner and were on the highway to success.

Coach Cockerill has selected an experienced side, more than capable of getting the job done. It is good to see Damien Hoyland set to rack-up his 50^th Edinburgh appearance tonight, and, hopefully, he can cap it with a try or two.

 Damien Hoyland - 50 not out tonight

The Edinburgh XV is: 1 Michele Rizzo, 2 Ross Ford, 3 Simon Berghan, 4 Anton Bresler, 5 Ben Toolis, 6 Magnus Bradbury (CAPTAIN), 7 John Hardie, 8 Cornell du Preez; 9 Nathan Fowles, 10 Duncan Weir; 11 Jason Harries, 12 Robbie Fruean, 13 Chris Dean, 14 Damien Hoyland; 15 Blair Kinghorn. Replacements: 16 Neil Cochrane, 17 Darryl Marfo, 18 WP Nel, 19 Fraser McKenzie, 20 Hamish Watson, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 Jason Tovey, 23 Junior Rasolea.

GLASGOW WARRIORS today announced their squad for their clash with Cardiff, in Wales, tomorrow. The squad is:

1 Jamie Bhatti, 2 George Turner, 3 Zander Fagerson, 4 Tim Swinson, 5 Scott Cummings, 6 Matt Fagerson, 7 Callum Gibbins, 8 Adam Ashe; 9 Henry Pyrgos (CAPTAIN), 10 Finn Russell; 11 Lee Jones, 12 Alex Dunbar, 13 Nick Grigg, 14 Tommy Seymour; 15 Ruaridh Jackson. Replacements: 16 Pat MacArthur, 17 Alex Allan, 18 D’arcy Rae, 19 Brian Alainu’uese, 20 Chris Fusaro; 21 George Horne, 22 Peter Horne, 23 Niko Matawalu.

Tim Swinson will join the 100 Club tomorrow

Tim Swinson will lead-out the team, on the occasion of his 100^th Warriors' appearance, while Henry Pyrgos leads the side, with regular skipper Ryan Wilson injured. It is interesting to see the Horne brothers named together on the bench, we might yet see them in concert at half-back, while the inspired genius that is Niko Matawalu is also set to be unleashed from the bench, if required. Good too to see Tommy Seymour back in the squad and ready to roll.

Cardiff, having lost their first two fixtures, will be anxious to avoid a third beating, so, they will put up a fight, perhaps literally, but, this is another game which Glasgow are more than capable of winning in style.

Also worth noting, Mike Adamson is far-travelled this weekend. He is one of the refereeing team on-duty in the first PRO14 game in South Africa, when he takes the flag as Assistant Referee One, for the match between Southern Kings and Leinster, in the magnificent Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth. Between his service on the Sevens circuit, the Rio Olympics and now this, wee Mikey's passport must be about worn-out.

NO QUESTION about the Match of the Day in the BT Premiership tomorrow. It has to be the Clash of the Titans at Millbrae, between Ayr and Melrose. Melrose have won the last two encounters between the sides, in the Scottish Cup final and the Charity Shield, so Calum Forrester and his Ayr force will be determined to stop a third straight loss to their greatest rivals.

Ayr have just not been clicking, so, tomorrow is as good a day as any for this to happen. However, given the start they have made, you have to fancy the 'Rose to bloom again at Millbrae.

Somewhere on the road, the Melrose team coach will pass the Marr one, taking the Premiership new boys to Hawick. Beating Heriot's at Fullarton last week alerted the rest of the established Premiership clubs to the fact, Marr have not come up to make-up the numbers. They hope the release of Warriors' James Malcolm and big Greg Peterson might stabilise a scrum which has creaked in their two games thus far, but, Hawick should beware, in the loose, Marr can be lethal. And with Marr old boy, former Scotland captain Peter Brown - a "glory-hunting" part-time supporter, according to wee bother John, watching tomorrow, they will be keen to put one over on the Green Machine.

Peter Brown - will be watching Marr tomorrow

However, Hawick too have professional reinforcements in Edinburgh's Tom Brown at full-back, and Kevin Bryce at tight-head. There are rumours Darcy Graham might be unleashed on Marr too, but, even without him, Hawick will be fancied to make home advantage count.

At Scotstoun, Hawks, following last week's more-than-welcome win over Ayr, will be looking to beat a wounded Heriot's, who have now lost their first two games and will be desperate to stop the rot. Much has been made of the teacher v pupil clash between Ross Thomson of Hawks and Stuart Edwards of Heriot's at ten, but, for me the key battle-ground here is up front. It will be tight, but, Hawks can maintain their 100% start to the season – switching to Scotstoun has definitely been good for them.

The West Edinburgh Derby between Boroughmuir and Currie is another intriguing match-up, while just up the road, at Myreside, Watsonians will be looking to kick-start their season by beating a Stirling County side which has perhaps been the surprise packet of the opening couple of rounds of games. It's an interesting fixture list tomorrow, with a lot of quality rugby promised – let's hope the sides can deliver.